Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2016 -

Seldom does a book emerge that is as timely, as truly needed in the field, and as extraordinarily beautiful asSymbols of Power, by Mackie (curator, textiles and Islamic art, Cleveland Museum of Art). Using the Islamic textile collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art as a foundation and incorporating objects from other museums and collections on four continents, Mackie employed her extensive personal expertise to create a book that chronologically introduces and explores luxury textiles from the Islamic cultures of Spain, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. Textiles as material objects are described physically and structurally, put into context, and used to unpack cultural identity. Each chapter looks at the enormous economic impact of textiles and reveals luxury textiles as political symbols and tools in domestic and international politics. Included in each chapter is a highlight section focusing on either an individual textile or a contemporary research question. Both emphasize the impact of the book's current research and draw attention to areas in the field that could be further explored and broadened. With its tight research and gorgeous images, this book is an essential edition for programs teaching textiles, art history, and all Islamic topics.Summing Up: Essential. All readership levels.